If you are like me, you have countless reusable bags.  I’ve acquired a rather impressive collection of canvas totes, recycled polyester stuffable sacks, and cotton string bags.  Many of them were promotional, several of them were gifts, and a couple were self indulgent ooooOOOOoooo Eco-geek purchases.  I even have reusable produce bags.

Many eco minded people have every intention, myself included, have the best intentions of going “bagless,” swearing off plastic or paper forever and saying to the grocery clerk “I don’t need a bag…I brought my own,”  enabling them to leave the grocery store with a wonderful warm fuzzy feeling resonating from hair follicles to toenails.  These same eco minded people, myself included, then find themselves at the register bagless left making the choice of “paper or plastic.”

I chose to circumnavigate this by carrying an oversized canvas tote as my daily purse.  Nearly all of my “I just need a few things” purchases can fit into it.  When I carry a smaller purse, I always carry one of my Chico bags, two impulsive ooooOOOOoooo Eco-Geek Purchases.  They are tiny and expand to be quite large.  Envirosax also makes similar sacks, that I’ve heard wonderful things about.

My bigger issue was remember bags for my larger grocery outings.  I frequently couldn’t find enough of the countless totes or all of the produce bags, leaving me frustrated and surrounded by plastic bags, when I return from my excursion.  Recently Pete and I decided to make a very real effort to eat at home at least 75% of the time.  2.5 weeks later and I can count the number of restaurant meals on one hand.  This means, of course, that we are grocery shopping on a regular basis.

In one of my few moments of clarity, I went on a hunt through the apartment.  I collected all of the assorted reusable bags, I found six, and rolled them as compactly as I could.

One of my most recent acquisitions was an “Earth Day” tote, measuring about 8″x12″ when folded.  This tote with it’s compact size,  with my six grocery bags and new collection of reusable produce bags snuggly inside, makes a great carrying case for my “Grocery on the Go Kit.”  This kit, lives in the kitchen in plain sight.  To give myself even more of a reminder, I send myself iPhone calendar updates on shopping day.

It’s an simple green way to reduce the disposable shopping bag population.

Miranda’s Grocery on the Go Kit

1 Carrying Case, I recommend reusing an existing bag. But if you must buy new, the Chico rePETE Sling is a great option. It makes a cute purse as well.
6 or so reusable bags for groceries, use your judgment as a family of 2 is going to need fewer bags than a family of six. Again, you probably have these lying around your home, but if not Chico’s original or rePETE sacks are great. (Chico Bag is not sponsoring this site, I just really dig their products.)
10+ reusable produce bags. I highly recommend the Flip and Tumble Produce bags. I have put forth several attempts to find a reasonably priced, transparent, durable, and reusable produce bag. See my previous post about the glory that is the Flip and Tumble produce bag

That’s all you need for this truly common sense DIY.  However I think you will find, as I did, that having all these items in a common, easily accessible location will be invaluable and time saving.

There has been alot of information pertaining to BPA floating around the news at late.  BPA, the common abbreviation for Bisphenol A, is a compound found in several plastics (code 3 and some code 7) and food can liners.

Concerns about its effect on humans have been raised since the 1930’s, but it was only recently that these concerns became more prevalent.  The Endocrine Society has raised concerns about the probability of BPA as a Endocrine Disruptor.  An Endocrine Disruptor mimics the body’s hormones.  This is can be particularly harmful to developing fetuses, infants and toddlers.  There is also evidence that BPA contributes to obesity in adults and children.

The short of it in the least alarmist of terms.  This stuff isn’t very good for you and avoiding it is probably a good idea.

It’s surprisingly easy to do so.  Many new plastics are coming labeled “BPA Free.”  Glass is always a safe and inert alternative, which doesn’t leach.  A third alternative is the “Tertra Pak.”

While grocery shopping, I was mildly amazed at how many products are now available in Tetra Pak.  Everything from Vegetable Broth and Milk, arrived in my home, safely packaged in the brightly colored BPA free packaging.  It’s now the one of the safest way to package highly acidic foods like tomatoes.

Nothing can beat fresh or home canned.  But Tetra Pak is offering a reliable, safe packaging for those waiting for their veggies to come in.

Vegetarian Tater Soup

• 2 carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 celery ribs, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 1/2 pound russet (baking) potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 TB olive oil
• 2 cup water
• 2 cups of vegetable broth
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 tablespoons chopped dill